How to Make Fabric Drink Coasters

Fabric drink coasters are a great project for beginner sewers. You get to sew with different seam allowances and have multiple opportunities to use most of the 8 basic sewing skills. If you’re new to working with rotary cutting tools, you’ll have the opportunity to practice this skill, too.

In addition, fabric drink coasters don’t take long to make. When you’re done, you have something that’s functional. You’ll look at them with pride knowing you made them with your own two hands.

How to Sew Fabric Drink Coasters

After following the directions in this lesson, you’ll have 8 fabric drink coasters that are 4 x 4-inch square.

Tip: Read all of the steps before you begin so you know what you’ll be doing.

Preparation

Gather the Supplies

1/4 yard of 100% cotton for fabric A

1/4 yard of 100% cotton for fabric B

Enough felt to make 8 – 5 x 5-inch squares. (Felt can be purchased off the bolt as well as in smaller size sheets.) Select a color that won’t show through the fabric.

If one of the fabrics has a print and you want a specific part of it to be fully on the coaster, you’ll want to fussy cut it.

Cut 8 – 5 x 5-inch squares from the felt.

Construction

Tip: Read all of the steps before you begin so you know what you’ll be doing.

Layer 3 fabric squares. First, lay down fabric A right side up. Next, lay down fabric B wrong side up. (Right sides of fabric A and B are together.) Last, place a felt square on top.

Pin the three layers together using a couple of pins on each side. Make sure the edges are lined up.

The seam allowance will be 1/2-inch. Place the pinned squares under the presser foot. Start the seam about an inch from one of the corners. You won’t need to backstitch here. You’ll leave an opening to turn the coaster right side out. Without a backstitch to secure the seam, it’ll be easier to turn. Sew almost all the way around the perimeter of the square. Stop about one and a half inches from where you started.

Trim the point off at each corner. Be careful not to cut any stitches. Clipping the corner removes extra fabric and helps the corners have a crisper point.

Find the opening. Separate fabric A from fabric B and the felt. Turn the coaster so the right sides are out. If the stitches on either side of the opening loosen up a little, that’s okay.

Push the corners out as far as you can with your fingers. Then carefully use the closed, pointy end of scissors to push out the corners a little more so they are more defined. The fabric coaster should now look like this with the right sides out.

Fold the edges of the opening to the inside of the coaster. The outer edges of the coaster should be lined up with each other. Pull the threads from where you started and stopped the seam so they aren’t loose. Now, either tuck them in or cut them off. Be careful not to cut the fabric. Pin the opening closed.

Now it’s time for some topstitching to close the opening and add a little decoration to the fabric drink coasters. Sew approximately a 1/8 of an inch from the edge of the coaster. I use the edge of one of the feed dog holes as a guide for the 1/8 inch. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the topstitching to make sure the opening stays closed. Note: This part of the coaster is thicker than the rest of it because it has felt in the seam allowance. The thickness could make it difficult after you pivot and begin sewing on a new side. If the coaster doesn’t move forward on its own after a couple up and downs of the needle, put your left hand close to the presser foot and grasp the top edge of the coaster that you just sewed. Pull gently but firmly until the feed dogs start moving the fabric on their own.

To give the drink coasters a little personality, sew a second line of topstitching inside the first one. Use the right edge of the presser and align it with the first line of topstitching you did. You don’t need to backstitch when adding the second row of topstitching because it’s not part of the sewing that holds together the fabric drink coaster. Hold on to the thread when you start sewing so it doesn’t get caught up underneath.

That’s It. You’re Done!

These fabric drink coasters work great to protect tables from glass rings by soaking up condensation. 100% cotton absorbs water and felt is water resistant.

Celebrate with Fabric Drink Coasters

Fabric drink coasters are an easy way to celebrate sports, seasons, and holidays. They are quick to make and easy to switch out. Just look for themed fabric that is 100% cotton.

I made these fabric drink coasters as a gift along with a matching gift bag to store them in.

Cleaning the Fabric Coasters

Over time, the fabric coasters will get dirty. Apply a stain remover to any stains before washing them.

Because you prewashed the 100% cotton fabrics and not the felt, wash the fabric coasters in cold water. When I wash mine, I like to put them all in a washing bag for delicates. I’ve washed them in both a normal and delicate cycle but always make sure the water is set to cold.

Lay them flat to dry. Do not put them in the dryer.

Share What You Made

One of the greatest joys of being a teacher is seeing the results that happen when learning is applied. I would love to see what you made! Send me a picture of your coasters to nicki@theruffledpurse.com.

If you have questions about making the coasters or sewing in general, don’t hesitate to email those to me, too.

Hello, I'm Nicki!

Having a creative outlet is a necessity. My goal is to educate and inspire others in sewing-related projects that are fun, functional, or both. Sign up to receive notice when new posts have been published.

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Hello, I’m Nicki!

Welcome to The Ruffled Purse! If you've been wanting to learn how to sew or already know how to sew but want to spend more time doing it, you're in the right place. Here you'll find education and inspiration for sewing projects for yourself, your home, and others. About me...